Top Hezbollah Leader Hashem Safieddine Killed in Israeli Airstrike \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ An Israeli airstrike outside Beirut earlier this month reportedly killed Hezbollah’s top cleric, Hashem Safieddine, who was expected to succeed Hassan Nasrallah as the group’s leader. Israel stated the strike targeted Hezbollah facilities and killed 25 others. The militant group has not confirmed Safieddine’s death. Fresh airstrikes on Tuesday further targeted Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut’s southern suburbs. As the Israel-Hamas conflict rages on, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the region attempting to broker a cease-fire and increase humanitarian aid to Gaza, where the death toll continues to rise.
Israeli Airstrike Kills Hashem Safieddine, Hezbollah’s Next Leader: Quick Looks
- Hashem Safieddine’s Death: Israeli forces claimed responsibility for the death of top Hezbollah cleric Hashem Safieddine, seen as the successor to the late Hassan Nasrallah.
- Major Hezbollah Losses: Israeli airstrikes in recent months have decimated Hezbollah’s leadership, reportedly leaving the group struggling for stability.
- Ongoing Airstrikes: Tuesday’s strikes leveled more buildings in Beirut’s Dahiyeh suburb, where Hezbollah has strongholds.
- Drone Attack on Netanyahu’s Home: Hezbollah took credit for a weekend drone attack on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence, though no one was home at the time.
- Diplomatic Push for Cease-Fire: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is working to secure a cease-fire in Gaza, while emphasizing the need for increased humanitarian aid.
Deep Look:
Safieddine’s death is yet another significant blow to Hezbollah’s leadership, following months of sustained Israeli airstrikes that have targeted the group’s top echelon. Israeli military officials said the strike on Safieddine took place earlier in October and that around 25 other Hezbollah leaders were killed during the operation. The attack occurred in a southern suburb of Beirut, a densely populated area known to house Hezbollah facilities and leadership offices. Hezbollah has yet to officially confirm Safieddine’s death, but the loss of such a key figure is likely to further destabilize the group.
Hezbollah in Disarray
The Israeli military has significantly weakened Hezbollah’s command structure in recent months, leaving the group’s leadership in a state of disarray. With the deaths of key figures like Hassan Nasrallah and now Hashem Safieddine, Hezbollah faces growing uncertainty about its future leadership and ability to effectively coordinate its military operations. Israeli forces have focused on eliminating Hezbollah’s senior commanders as part of a broader strategy to diminish the group’s military capabilities and disrupt its leadership succession plans.
In response to the loss of its leaders, Hezbollah has escalated its retaliatory attacks, including a drone strike on the residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The drone attack, which took place over the weekend, caused damage to Netanyahu’s home in the coastal town of Caesarea. However, the Israeli prime minister and his wife were not present at the time of the attack. Hezbollah spokesperson Mohammed Afif confirmed the group’s involvement in the attack and suggested that further strikes could follow.
Airstrikes Rock Beirut Suburbs
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah shows no signs of abating. On Tuesday, Israeli jets carried out fresh airstrikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut, known as Dahiyeh, where Hezbollah has a strong presence. One of the strikes leveled a building that Israel claimed housed Hezbollah facilities. The attack occurred just 40 minutes after Israeli forces issued evacuation warnings for two buildings in the area. Despite the warnings, debris and smoke filled the air as the targeted structure collapsed, just a few hundred meters from where Hezbollah representatives had briefed journalists earlier in the day.
The airstrike comes amid heightened tensions, with Israeli forces continuing their offensive against Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon, while Hezbollah escalates its rocket and drone attacks on Israeli cities. On Monday night, Israeli airstrikes destroyed several buildings near the Rafik Hariri University Hospital in Beirut, killing 18 people and injuring at least 60. While Israel claimed it was targeting Hezbollah, the proximity of the strikes to Lebanon’s largest public hospital has sparked fears that medical facilities could become targets, similar to the situation in Gaza, where Israeli forces have accused Hamas of using hospitals for military purposes.
Humanitarian Concerns and Diplomatic Efforts
As the conflict intensifies, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is making diplomatic efforts to revive cease-fire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. Blinken, who met with Netanyahu on Tuesday, emphasized the need to increase the flow of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, where the death toll continues to rise. Blinken described his meeting with Netanyahu as “friendly and productive,” though both sides appear to be digging in, with little sign of an imminent cease-fire.
Blinken’s visit comes just days after Israel’s killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, an event that many hoped could create an opening for renewed negotiations. However, both Israel and Hamas remain entrenched in their positions. Blinken has stressed that Israel should capitalize on Sinwar’s death to push for an end to the war in Gaza, as well as the release of hostages being held by Hamas. The U.S. has been actively working with Egypt and Qatar to broker a deal that would include a cease-fire, the release of hostages, and the freeing of Palestinian prisoners. Yet, despite these efforts, talks between Israel and Hamas collapsed over the summer and have yet to resume.
Lebanon’s Hospitals Caught in the Crossfire
In addition to the military strikes, humanitarian concerns continue to mount, particularly regarding Lebanon’s hospitals. On Tuesday, Associated Press reporters visited the Rafik Hariri University Hospital in Beirut, where windows were shattered from nearby airstrikes. The hospital’s pharmacy and dialysis center, both of which were full of patients at the time, suffered significant damage. Hospital staff remain fearful that their facility could be directly targeted, especially after Israeli forces alleged that Hezbollah had stashed large amounts of cash and gold in the basements of local hospitals.
Sahel General Hospital, another facility in Beirut, was also evacuated on Monday night after Israeli forces issued warnings of potential strikes. The hospital’s director, Mazen Alame, vehemently denied Israel’s claims that Hezbollah was using the hospital to hide assets. Alame invited journalists to inspect the hospital’s underground floors to prove there were no militants or caches of weapons hidden there. Nevertheless, many residents and staff remain on edge, fearing that hospitals could become collateral damage as the conflict escalates.
Growing Death Toll
Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported on Tuesday that 63 people had been killed in the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll from the year-long conflict between Israel and Hezbollah to 2,546. This latest surge in casualties comes as Israeli airstrikes continue to pound Hezbollah-held areas in southern Beirut, as well as other regions in southern and eastern Lebanon where the group maintains a strong presence.
The situation is equally dire in Gaza, where Israel is waging a major offensive in the northern part of the territory. Local health authorities estimate that more than 42,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began, with tens of thousands more injured. The Israeli government maintains that its strikes are targeting Hamas militants, but Palestinian officials have accused Israel of indiscriminately targeting civilians.
Conclusion
As Israel’s offensive against Hezbollah intensifies, the group’s leadership has been severely weakened, with key figures like Hashem Safieddine and Hassan Nasrallah eliminated in Israeli airstrikes. Despite these losses, Hezbollah continues to escalate its attacks on Israel, raising concerns that the conflict could spread even further. With diplomatic efforts to secure a cease-fire stalling, the region remains on edge as violence escalates and civilian casualties mount on both sides of the border.
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